How To Get To Sardinia: Flights, Ferries, Routes & Best Airports

Trying to understand how to get to Sardinia? This post has you covered. If you’re reading this, it means that you are planning a trip to Sardinia and likely wondering what the best way to get to Sardinia – from Italy, from Europe, or even from North America or Australia – is.

There are only two ways to get to Sardinia: by plane and by ferry. Flying is better: there are more flights, there are many routes, and it’s much quicker and oftentimes also cheaper.

You see, I was born and raised in Sardinia, but I travel all the time around the world, and I have lived in London and in the United States. When I did, I explored all the ways and routes to travel to Sardinia.

If you are wondering “how do you get to Sardinia?” and are gearing up for your trip, I’m here to help you decide on the best routes. The good news is that Sardinia is well-connected to many cities in Italy and in Europe (for example, London, Dublin, Paris, Munich, and Frankfurt) via direct flights, and there are now direct flights to Sardinia from New York City.

In this post, I will explain how to travel to Sardinia and share my best tips to help you plan your trip to my beloved island.

Need more help planning your trip to Sardinia? Book a travel consultation with me via Calendly and join my Facebook Strictly Sardinia Travel Tips community.

Quick Guide to Getting to Sardinia

Here’s a quick overview of how to get to Sardinia.

You have two easy options — fly or take a ferry.

Fly – Fastest and often cheapest, especially for short stays and if you travel carry-on only. Three main airports: Cagliari (CAG) for the south and central Sardinia, Olbia (OLB) for the north/east, and Alghero (AHO) for the north/west.

Ferry – Best if you’re bringing a car, pets, or a lot of luggage. Main ports: Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Porto Torres, Cagliari, Arbatax.

Typical costs – Flights from mainland Italy can be as cheap as €60 / £50 / $65 with low-cost airlines; summer ferries with cabin + car from €120 / £100 / $130 (book in advance for cheaper options).

Typical travel times – Flights around 1h from Italy; between 1 and 3 hours from other places in Europe; ferries 50 minutes to 15 hours depending on route.

From the US/Canada/Australia – There are only direct flights from New York JFK to Olbia. Otherwise, connect via Rome (FCO), then a short 45-minute hop to Sardinia.

Map of Sardinian Airports and Ferry Ports

As the map below shows, Sardinia has three airports and six ferry ports. Pick the one closest to where you plan to stay in Sardinia.

How to use this Airports and Ferry Ports in Sardinia map: This Sardinia Airports and Ferry Ports map points you to the various entry points you can use in Sardinia. Use your computer mouse on a desktop or a laptop, or your fingers on your smartphone, to enlarge the map. If you click on the star next to the title, you can save it to your Google Maps account for when you start planning. You can also view the saved map on your smartphone or computer when you click on “Your saved maps” in your Google Maps. If you want to see the map in a larger screen, click on “View larger map” in the top right corner.

How To Get To Sardinia By Plane: Best Flights To Sardinia

Traveling to Sardinia by plane is quick and easy.

Flying to Sardinia is significantly faster, not to mention also cheaper than taking the ferry – though granted, traveling by ferry gives you the opportunity of bringing your own car, which is a great commodity when traveling around the island.

There are three airports in Sardinia – Cagliari Elmas (airport code CAG), located in the capital and serving the south and central regions of the island; Alghero Fertilia (AHO), located in Alghero in the northwest of Sardinia; and Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB), located in Olbia in the northeast of Sardinia and also serving the famous Emerald Coast and the Gallura Region.

Make sure to also read my post Which Are The Airports In Sardinia? for more information on where you can fly.

The map I have created and which you can see above, will help you locate the airports and the harbors in Sardinia. The table below sums up the main flight connections to and from Sardinian airports.

Airports in Sardinian cities are always close to the city they serve, and a quick bus, train, or taxi ride will take you straight to the center of town.

My post How To Get Around Sardinia helps you decide how to navigate the island once you get there.

Milano Linate in Milan and Rome Fiumicino in Rome have the highest number of direct connections to Sardinia with regular airlines.

Here is a quick breakdown of the flights from Rome and Milan Linate, the current operating carriers, and the flight duration:

• From Rome Fiumicino to Cagliari, operated by AeroItalia (less than one hour);
• From Rome Fiumicino to Olbia, operated by AeroItalia (less than one hour);
• From Rome Fiumicino to Alghero, operated by Italian national carrier ITA Airways (just over one hour);
• From Milano Linate to Cagliari, operated by AeroItalia (one hour and 20 minutes);
• From Milano Linate to Olbia, operated by AeroItalia (one hour and 10 minutes);
• From Milano Linate to Alghero, operated by ITA Airways (one hour and 10 minutes).

I want to reassure you that Aeroitalia is a reliable airline. Besides, at the moment, it has the monopoly on direct connections between Cagliari and Olbia to Rome and Milan. These flights are operated under what we refer to as “continuità territoriale” (literally: territorial continuity), intended to regularly connect to mainland Italy for residents of Sardinia. The service can’t be interrupted, and flights can’t be cancelled (though they may sometimes be delayed). This is their official website.

Good to know: Delta, Air France, KLM, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways run connecting flights via Rome Fiumicino Airport to Sardinia (Olbia and Cagliari) in cooperation with Aeroitalia. This means that you will only have to check in at your departure airport, and you can pick up your luggage at your final destination.

You will also be able to find direct budget flights to Sardinia.

These are just some of the budget airlines that have direct flights to Sardinia from Italy:

• Ryanair (Europe’s most popular low-cost carrier)
• Easyjet
• Eurowings
• Volotea
• WizzAir

Here are just some of the cities from which budget airlines fly:

• Milano Malpensa (Milan’s main international airport)
• Bergamo Orio al Serio (Milan’s budget airlines hub)
• Rome Ciampino (the budget airline hub for the capital city)
• Venice Marco Polo Airport
• Verona Catullo Airport
• Pisa
• Florence
• Turin
• Bologna
• Perugia
• Naples
• Bari

Ryanair usually operates a larger number of flights in the peak season between May and October, but also has flights during the winter. It offers direct flights from many European cities. These are just some of them:

• Dublin
• London Stansted
• Paris Beauvais

You will also find direct flights to Sardinia from various European cities with regular airlines in the peak season. These are just some examples:

• From London Gatwick, operated by British Airways;
• From Munich operated by Lufthansa;
• From Paris Orly operated by Air France;
• From Amsterdam operated by KLM.

Finally, there are direct flights to Sardinia’s Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport from New York JFK Airport, operated by Delta Airlines.

Direct flights from New York to Olbia will be operational from May 2026, as it has been just announced by the airline and by all media outlets in Italy. At the time of writing, these are strictly seasonal flights that operate 4 times per week from May to October.

Generally speaking, you will find options for direct flights to Sardinia from New York, various cities in Europe, and Italy during the high season, from May through October. Unfortunately, the offer is more limited during the low season, and if that’s when you are traveling, you may be better off flying via Rome Fiumicino or Milano Linate.

How to book your flight to Sardinia

If you have a choice of several airports you can fly from, you can use Omio to check out the schedule of the various airlines, their prices, and to book your flights to Sardinia.

Omio will tell you which are the best flight combinations, the best airlines, and you can even sort out the various flights by duration (especially important in case you have to catch a connecting flight), departure time, and price.

Once you do this, you can either stay on Omio to buy your plane tickets (I have done it plenty of times, and it’s safe and reliable) or go to the direct website of the airline. If I am flying to Rome or Milan, I normally just visit the website of the airline (Aeroitalia). Otherwise, I shop around for the best flights.

One important thing I need to point out is that buying flights directly from the airline may not necessarily be cheaper. Going through third-party booking sites such as Omio allows you to compare prices, and you may find that the best deal is via a site other than the official one of the airline.

How To Get To Sardinia By Plane From The United States, Asia, Or Australia

The only direct flights from North America to Sardinia are operated by Delta Airlines, which, starting in May 2026, will cover the route from New York JFK to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport with 4 weekly flights between May and October (which is an excellent month to visit Sardinia).

If you are traveling from other places in North America, or from Asia, Australia, or New Zealand, you will find it easier to fly via Rome, Milan, or another major European hub like Amsterdam or London to catch a connecting flight to Sardinia.

Flights to Rome and Milan are available from all main cities in the United States, such as (among others):

• New York
• Miami
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Los Angeles

These flights are operated by – among others – ITA Airways, Delta, United, and American Airlines.

There are also daily flights from Toronto with ITA Airways and AirCanada, as well as from Montreal.

If you are coming from Australia or New Zealand, you will have to break your journey in multiple legs – usually via Hong Kong or Singapore, then via Rome or Milan, where you can catch a connection to Sardinia.

Expert Tip: My recommendation, if you are coming to Sardinia from outside of Europe and you are not exploring anywhere in Italy beforehand, is to fly into Rome Fiumicino Airport and catch a connecting flight from there. Delta, Air France, KLM, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways all operate in partnership with Aerotalia, which means you can get connecting flights via Rome Fiumicino (without having to worry about picking up your luggage or checking in again).

Flights from North America, Australia, or Asia to Milan all land in Milano Malpensa, but flights to Sardinia depart from Milano Linate – this means that you’d have to change airports, and it would be a real hassle.

On the other hand, Rome Fiumicino Airport has direct connections to many cities in the world, and that’s where flights to Sardinia depart from, which means you would not have to change airports.

Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time between your intercontinental flight and your connection to Sardinia because you’ll have to go through passport control and – unless you are flying carry-on only – you’ll have to pick up your luggage, check it in again, and go through security again. I normally recommend 3 hours for a connection.

I recommend using Omio to find the best flight options from outside Europe.

Which Airport For Where?

As I pointed out before, Sardinia has three airports: two are located in the north of the island, and one in the south. My recommendation is to pick where you fly to based on where you decide to stay and explore on the island.

Here’s a quick overview of where to fly, based on what you want to explore:

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport

The airport serves the northeast of Sardinia.

Fly there if you intend to:

• Enjoy the beaches of Olbia;
• Visit Gallura – explore Arzachena, Santa Teresa Gallura, the beaches of northern Sardinia;
• Check out the Emerald Coast, Porto Cervo and San Pantaleo;
• Spend time in Baja Sardinia;
• Boat around La Maddalena Archipelago (also from Palau)
• Enjoy the beaches of San Teodoro and Budoni.

Once you are in Olbia, you can rent a car in Olbia Airport to explore further. I recommend using Discover Cars to pick the best deals.

My guide, How To Get From Olbia Airport To The City And Beyond, will help you make your way to Olbia city center and the Emerald Coast.

Alghero Fertilia “Riviera del Corallo” Airport

The airport serves northwest Sardinia.

Fly to Alghero if you wish to:

• Stay in Alghero;
• Enjoy a few day trips to Alghero – ie Bosa, Neptune’s Caves, Cuglieri;
• Go to Stintino to visit the magnificent La Pelosa Beach;
• Visit Castelsardo;
• Visit Asinara;
• Visit Oristano, the Sinis Peninsula, and the ruins of Tharros, or Sassari.

There are various car rental companies in Alghero Airport where you can easily rent a good car to explore the area. I recommend using Discover Cars to pick the best deals.

My post, How To Get From Alghero Airport To Alghero City Center, will help you plan your way to the city after you land.

Cagliari Elmas Airport

Cagliari Elmas Airport serves the south and central regions of Sardinia.

Fly to Cagliari if you wish to:

• Visit Cagliari for a few days;
• Spend your holidays on the Chia beaches;
• Check out Pula and the ruins of Nora;
• Visit Su Nuraxi in Barumini and the Giara Plateau;
• Explore the wild Costa Verde;
• Go to Villasimius or Costa Rei;
• Go to the Baunei Coast;
• Visit Oristano and the Sinis Peninsula.

You can rent a car in Cagliari Airport if you wish to move around the south of the island more freely. I recommend using Discover Cars to pick the best deals.

My post, How To Get To Cagliari From The Airport, explains how to get to the city after you land.

Traveling To Sardinia By Ferry

If your travel schedule allows for it, taking the ferry is definitely a good option to get to Sardinia. Best of all, you can bring your car along for the ride, which means you can move around more easily when in Sardinia – though of course, you always have the option of renting a car at the airport if you decide to fly to Sardinia.

Other than at Cagliari Airport, you can also rent a car in Alghero or hire a car in Olbia. My go-to company for car rental is Discover Cars, a comparison site that shows all the best deals on car hire anywhere in the world.

Ferries to Sardinia are available from mainland Italy, Sicily, Spain, and France.

The commercial ferry ports in Sardinia are:

• Olbia and Golfo Aranci, which are quite close to each other – both in the northeast of Sardinia.
• Porto Torres, in northwestern Sardinia.
• Arbatax, in eastern Sardinia.
• Cagliari, in Southern Sardinia
• Santa Teresa di Gallura, in northeastern Sardinia. However, this only connects Sardinia to Corsica.

I don’t often recommend traveling to Sardinia by ferry, as the journey can be quite long and time-consuming.

Most ferries throughout the year are overnight, and you typically spend a minimum of 8 hours on board (and depending on the route and the sea conditions, it can also be up to 15 hours). If you decide to travel overnight, I recommend booking a cabin for your trip so you can rest a bit during the journey.

Daytime ferries are available in the summer months, usually connecting Livorno (in Tuscany) to Olbia or Golfo Aranci. The journey lasts around 5 hours.

I have written a more detailed post on Where To Take The Ferry To Sardinia that will help you plan your ferry trip to the island.

Ferries from mainland Italy to Sardinia

Ferries from mainland Italy to Sardinia are available year-round, but run most frequently during high season between May and September – that’s when they will also be most crowded, not to mention expensive.

There are many companies that operate the routes between mainland Italy and Sardinia: Tirrenia, Grimaldi Lines, Moby, Grandi Navi Veloci, and Sardinia Ferries/Corsica Ferries.

Here’s a breakdown of the connections:

• From Civitavecchia (about 70 km/43.5 miles from Rome) to Olbia, Arbatax, and Cagliari;
• From Genoa to Porto Torres and Olbia;
• From Livorno and Piombino to Olbia and Golfo Aranci;
• From Naples to Cagliari;
• From Palermo to Cagliari.

This is a quick overview of the most important ferry routes from Italy to Sardinia:

Ferries from France and Spain

There are ferries to Sardinia also from France and Spain.

Here is a breakdown of the routes:

• From Marseille and Toulon to Porto Torres (around 10 hours crossing);
• From Nice to Golfo Aranci (around 13 hours)
• From Ajaccio Corsica to Porto Torres;
• From Bonifacio in Corsica to Santa Teresa di Gallura;
• From Barcelona to Porto Torres (just over 13 hours).

And a quick table for a quick overview:

I have written a detailed post on How To Get From Corsica To Sardinia that highlights the various options available to travel between the two islands.

How to book your ferry to Sardinia

The best engine to book your ferry trip to Sardinia is Direct Ferries. It’s a third-party booking site that allows you to see the different companies that operate the service, the departing times, and the prices.

It’s easy to use:

• Select your departure harbor and the arrival one;
• Pick your departure date;
• Fill out the form with your information;
• You will need to state if you are traveling with a car too: enter the brand, model, and the dimensions of your car;
• Pick the kind of ticket you want: just a basic ticket, or a cabin (1st or 2nd class).

I recommend using Direct Ferries to find the best routes, schedule, and deals on ferries to Sardinia. Especially if you are traveling with your car, make sure to book as early in advance as possible, as prices can skyrocket in the peak season.

Should I Fly or Take a Ferry?

I normally recommend flying to Sardinia. It’s usually cheaper, and it’s significantly faster, which is especially important if you only have a short time to spend on the island.

Hopefully, this quick decision flow will help you decide.

Choose a flight if:

• Yours is a short trip;
• You are traveling on a budget;
• You are visiting just one region of Sardinia;
• You want something that is time-efficient;
• You are thinking of renting a car in Sardinia;
• You are coming from outside of Europe.

Choose to travel by ferry if:

• You are bringing your car;
• You want to bring your pets (main carriers will allow you to bring your cats on the plane, too);
• You are traveling with your family and bringing a lot of gear.

Good to know: Ferry timetables are denser in late spring–summer; shoulder months have fewer crossings.

Cruises To Sardinia

If you are a fan of cruise travel, you will be glad to know that many cruises around the Mediterranean also stop in Sardinia.

This isn’t exactly a means of transportation to the island, but there are regular cruises in the Mediterranean throughout the year (and more frequent ones in the summer) that dock in the ports of Cagliari and Olbia for a day, allowing you to explore the city or its immediate surroundings.

Various companies offer cruises in the Mediterranean Sea that stop in Sardinia. The most popular ones are Costa Crociere and MSC. Other stops usually include Rome (Civitavecchia), Marseille, Barcelona, and Venice.

FAQs on Getting to Sardinia

Final Considerations on How to Get to Sardinia

I hope this post has brought some clarity on how to travel to Sardinia.

To sum it up, there are many flights to Sardinia from various cities in Italy and Europe, operated by either regular airlines or budget airlines. There is also a flight from New York to Olbia now.

Otherwise, if you are coming from outside of Europe (for example, from anywhere else in North America other than New York) and Sardinia is your first (or only) stop, I recommend flying via Rome Fiumicino Airport as it offers the best connections to the island.

I wish you safe travels on your journey to Sardinia. No matter which route you take, you’ll feel right at home as soon as you set foot on Sardinian soil. Luckily, there are great routes from most major European cities, and lightning-fast flights from Italy, too. However, if you’re able to take the ferry, I hope it’s smooth sailing for you, as it’s always been for me!

Safe travels! Bon voyage! Buon viaggio!